Dressing assistance apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A dressing assistance system includes a support, and at least one clip attached to the support. A dressing method uses the dressing assistance system. The dressing method includes fastening an article of clothing in an open position to a support, placing the article of clothing onto a body, and walking away from the support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions relates to a dressing assistance apparatus and method. In addition, the present inventions include methods for manufacturing, installing and using the dressing assistance apparatus and method.

BACKGROUND

Many people find it difficult to dress themselves. The reasons for this are limitless. As a person ages, they joints and muscles just may not work as well as they did in their youth. An older person may find it difficult to put on a shirt, coat or jacket for example. This malady is not limited to older people. The young may also have similar difficulties. Some of the difficulties may result from a stroke, which can affect your motor skills. Others may injure themselves. For example, certain injuries, such as shoulder injuries may result in limiting the person's movement about the shoulder joint. Thus, there are many people that find it difficult to put on a coat, jacket, shirt or similar item. There are also many times when no one may be around to help such a person to dress or put on a jacket, shirt, or coat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front view of a dressing assistance system, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the main bracket of the dressing assistance system according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an adjustable extension rod of the dressing assistance system, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is close up perspective view of a portion of the adjustable extension rod of the dressing assistance system that includes a clothes hangar support, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a set of support arms of the adjustable extension rod of the dressing assistance system, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a clip for clipping clothes to a support arm of the adjustable extension rod of the dressing assistance system, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing an attachment between the clip for clipping clothes and the support arm of the adjustable extension rod of the dressing assistance system, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7A is front view of the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7B is front view of the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7C is front view of the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7D is front view of the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a method for using the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All figures are illustrated for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements for various applications will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood.

Where used in various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood to reference only the structure shown in the drawings and utilized only to facilitate describing the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is front view of a dressing assistance system 100, according to an example embodiment. The dressing assistance system 100 includes a main bracket 200, an extension rod 300, a support arm system 500, and a clip 600. In one example embodiment, the main bracket 200 is adapted for use on a door, such as a closet door, bathroom door, or bedroom door. In one embodiment, the main bracket 200 includes a lip for hanging over a door. The lip 210 is located proximate the top of the main bracket 200. In another embodiment, the main bracket 200 will include openings therein for receiving fasteners. The fasteners can be used to attach the main bracket 200 to a door. In still another embodiment, the main bracket 200 can be attached to a wall rather than a door. The main bracket 200 can be attached to a wall in the bedroom, the bathroom, or any other wall in a structure. It should be noted that the dressing assistance system may not be limited to residential use. In other words, the dressing assistance system 100 can be used in hospitals, hospital rooms, locker rooms, physical therapy rooms, and the like. For example, some of the dressing assistance systems 100 can be used to teach people how to dress themselves in a therapeutic setting. The dressing assistance system 100 may also be used at fire stations where it is necessary to dress very quickly. A fireman could slip on a heavy jacket very quickly using the dressing assistance system 100. It should be noted that the main support 200 can be made of plastic or metal or wood or any material that will support an article of clothing. It should be noted that the main support 200 and the dressing assistance system is not designed to support a person. Rather it is designed to support an article of clothing. In some instances, the article of clothing will be heavier than in other instances. This would necessitate a design change. For example, a dressing assistance system 100 are used in the fire station would have to be heavier than a dressing assistance system 100 used in an assisted living facility. It should be noted that the extension rod 300 can be fixed or adjustable. An adjustable extension rod is described more fully below, but a fixed extension rod is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the main support 200 of the dressing assistance system 100 according to an example embodiment. The main support 200 shown in this particular embodiment includes at least a first and second mounting opening 210, 212. The main support 200 also includes a plurality of slotted mounting openings, such as openings 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228 and 229. Each of the slotted mounting openings is dimensioned so that it can receive an extruded pin (shown in FIG. 3 below). Each of the slotted openings includes an enlarged upper portion for receiving the extruded pin. Once the pin is received, the pin can then slip down into the slot associated with the slotted mounting opening. It should also be noted that the distance between the slotted mounting openings to 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 228, and 229 will match the spacing between a corresponding set of extruded pins on an article to be engaged with the slotted mounting openings. This will be further detailed in the discussion of FIG. 3 below.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an adjustable extension rod 300 of the dressing assistance system 100, according to an example embodiment. Adjustable extension rod 300 includes a set of extruded pins 310, 312. The set of extruded pins 310, 312 are used to connect to at least two of the slotted mounting openings 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 228, and 229. The extruded pins 310, 312, as shown, are formed of plastic. It should be noted that the pins 310, 312 can also be made of metal or other suitable fastening material. It should also be noted that the pins 310, 312 need not be extruded but may be formed by other manufacturing methods. Similarly the adjustable extension rod 300 can also be made of metal or plastic or any other material capable of supporting an article of clothing. In this particular embodiment, the adjustable extension rod 300 is made of plastic which is lightweight and durable enough for light use. In other applications it may be necessary to make the adjustable extension rod 300 from metal or other more durable material. The pins 310, 312 are spaced so that they will engage a pair of the slotted mounting openings 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 228, and 229. The adjustable extension rod 300 can be moved up and down for the convenience of the user. For example a tall person would place the adjustable extension rod 300 at a higher height and employ the slotted openings which are proximate the top of the set of slotted openings 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 228, and 229. A shorter person would place the adjustable extension rod 300 into a pair of slide openings which are proximate a lower end 260 of the main bracket 200.

FIG. 4 is close up perspective view of a portion of the adjustable extension rod 300 of the dressing assistance system 100 that includes a clothes hangar support 320, according to an example embodiment. The clothes hanger support 320 supports a clothes hanger for an article of clothing. As shown, the clothes hanger support 320 is a substantially horizontal extension that extends out from the adjustable extension rod 300. One end 321 of the clothes hanger support 320 is attached to the adjustable extension rod 300. Another end 322 includes an upset end. The upset end 322 prevents a hanger from easily moving on the clothes hanger support structure 320. In one embodiment, the upset end 322 is a cap which fits over the clothes hanger support structure 320. In another embodiment, the clothes hangers are structured print one and the angled upwardly with respect adjustable extension rod 300. This would also prevent the hanger from moving off the hanger support structure 320.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a set of support arms 500 attached to the adjustable extension rod 300 of the dressing assistance system 100, according to an example embodiment. The set of support arms 500 is substantially a U-shaped bracket that is attached to the adjustable extension rod 300. The U-shaped bracket has a first end 510 which carries the first support arm 512. The U-shaped bracket has a second end 20 which carries the second support arm 522. The first order 512 and the second support arm 522 are spaced to hold an article holding in an open manner. In one embodiment the distance between the first support arm 512 and the second support arm 522 is proximately 24 inches. The support arms 512, 522 extend out and away from the main bracket 200. In one embodiment the support arms 512, 522 extend out approximately 4.5 inches. Generally the support arms 512, 522 will have a link in the range of 3 to 6 inches. In another embodiment the support arms 512, 522 will have a length in the range of 2 to 8 inches. Generally when a heavier or both there are a couple of clothing scarring is supported by the support arms 512, 522, the support arms will be longer. For example, supporting a bulky jacket worn by a firefighter will require longer support arms 512, 522. Attached to the end of each support arm 512, 522 is a clip 610, 620, respectively. The clip 610, 620 is used to temporarily hold a desired article of clothing. The clips 610, 620 will be further described in FIGS. 6A and 6B below.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a clip 610 for clipping clothes to a support arm 510 of an adjustable extension rod 300 of the dressing assistance system 100, according to an example embodiment. The clip 610 has two arms 611, 616. The clip 610 is spring-loaded. The spring biases the two arms 611, 616 toward one another. The spring force associated with the clip has to be sufficient to hold the clothes in place with respect to the support arms 512, 522 and get sufficiently weak to release the clothes when a user walks away with the article of clothing on his or her back. As shown in FIG. 6A, the ends of the arms which are normally biased toward one another are provided with a set of pads 631, 636 which reduce the friction between the pads 631, 636. The pads 631, 636 are felt pads in this particular embodiment. In off the shelf clip 610 can be modified using additional pads, such as pads 631, 636. Of course, different material may be used for the pads 631, 636 to produce different coefficients of friction between the two pads. Another way to effectively lower the holding force would be to change out the spring or other biasing means for biasing first arm of the clip toward the second arm of the clip 610. Clip 620 is substantially identical to the clip 610. Therefore, there is no description of clip 620 since doing so would be repetitive.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing an attachment between the clip 610 for clipping clothes and the support arm 511 of the adjustable extension rod 300 of the dressing assistance system 100, according to an example embodiment. The clip 610 is attached to the support arm 511 by an elastomeric cord 630. The elastomeric cord 630 gives a little bit as a person moves away from the dressing assistance system 100.

FIGS. 7A-7D are various front view of the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 7A shows the dressing assistance system 100 with an article of clothing 700 on a hanger 710 placed on the hanger support 320. The article clothing 700 is unbuttoned. The article of clothing 700 is positioned near a bottom portion of the adjustable extension rod 300. The article of clothing also is positioned in front of the support arms 512, 522. The clips 610, 620 are positioned near the shoulders or shoulder portion of the article of clothing 700. The shirt 700 includes a collar 702 and a placket 704. The shirt also includes a button panel 706. The buttons associated with the button panel 706 attached to the button holes in the placket 704 to close the front opening of the shirt. The shirt or other article of clothing 700 also includes arms 707, 708.

Initially the clips 610, 620 are attached to the placket 704 and the button panel 706 near the collar 702. This is shown in FIG. 7B which is another front view of the dressing assistance system 100 after the clip 610, 620 have been attached and before the article of clothing 700 is been removed from the hanger 710, according to an example embodiment. The next step in the process is to remove the shirt 700 from the hanger 710. This is shown in FIG. 7C which is another front view of the dressing assistance system 100 in use, according to an example embodiment. The hanger 710 is then removed from the hanger support attachment 320. This is shown in FIG. 7D. In FIG. 7D the dressing assistance system 100 is holding the article clothing 700 and positioned so that a person may or can slip it on. In other words, a user can now turn his back to the dressing assistance system 100, slip a first arm into an arm 707 of the article clothing 700 and slip a second arm into the arm 708 of the article clothing 700. The person then walks away from the dressing assistance system 100. The clips 610, 620 slip off leaving the person with the article of clothing on. The person then asked about shirt or other article of 700 and another embodiment a jacket can be put on same fashion. In use, and intended could place a shirt or other article of clothing 700 onto the dressing system 100 at a time that is more convenient for the attendant. For example, in an assisted living facility many people have to be dressed at about same time every morning so they can go to breakfast. A nurse or other attendant could go around the night before and hang up a selected article of clothing onto the dressing assistance system 100. The article clothing 700 could hold clothing overnight or for some other selected time and then be used when the patient awakens or otherwise wants to get dressed. In some applications it may be advantageous to have more than one dressing assistance 100. For example, in winter climates, patients may also want to wear a sweater in addition to a blouse or shirt. Again and attendant could “set out” a blouse or shirt on one dressing assistance system and could “set out” a sweater on another dressing system so that the person could place both on by themselves.

In surgical suite or a room in which surgeons prepare or get dressed, surgical system in place of surgical gown on one or more of dressing assistance systems. Surgeons could then scrub out and place sterilized surgical gear on quickly. In still another application firefighters who need to get dressed quickly may have a number of dressing assistance systems that hold jackets for various firefighters. It should be noted that even though, the article of clothing 700 shown in FIGS. 7A-7D is a shirt, other articles of clothing 700 could be held by dressing assistance system 100. Other articles of clothing 700 may include jackets, blouses, shirts, zip up polar fleece sweatshirts, and the like.

FIG. 8 is a method 800 for using the dressing assistance system in use, according to an example embodiment. The method 800 includes hanging an article of clothing onto the clothes support attachment 810, and clipping the article of clothing to the dressing assistance system 812. The article of clothing is then removed from the hanger 814. The hanger is then removed from the clothes support attachment 816. The user then stands in front of the dressing assistance system with their back near the dressing assistance system 818. The user slips a first arm into an arm of the article clothing 820, the user then slips a second arm into the arm of an article of clothing 822. The user then walks away from the dressing assistance system 824. User can then button or otherwise fastened the article of clothing to complete dressing 826.

Although a few variations have been described and illustrated in detail above, it should be understood that other modifications are possible. In addition it should be understood that the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present inventions. Upon review of the specification, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying Figs. and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A dressing assistance system comprising: a support; and at least one clip attached to the support.
 2. A dressing method comprising: fastening an article of clothing in an open position to a support; and placing the article of clothing onto a body; and walking away from the support. 